Extenuating Circumstances

If you find your studies are affected by circumstances outside your control, you may be able to apply for extenuating circumstances (EC) to be taken into account.

You can make a claim for EC on the appropriate form which you can find here

You will need to submit evidence to support your claim.

The claim is heard by a panel and the deadlines for submitting a claim to each panel meeting are on the form.

You need to say which units (code and title) have been affected, the dates of assessment and whether you actually were able to submit the work. If you don’t know the unit titles/codes, talk to your school or look at your course handbook.

The EC panel cannot review grades or grant extensions.

If you are claiming EC for work already submitted or an exam which you did sit, please remember that a claim for EC is a request to have the mark returned to zero and for the work to be done again as if for the first time, so you will have to do the work again or sit the exam at the next opportunity (which may be in several months’ time).

While you are waiting for your EC claim to be decided you should continue to hand in work if you can.

Ideally, claims should be submitted as soon as you realise your performance is being affected. You can submit a claim up to 10 days after results have been received, but you may need good reasons why you didn’t submit an EC claim sooner. Claims must be received by the end of the academic year.

Claims and evidence are treated in confidence. Decisions are sent via your University email and copied to your school office.

EC claims could be about anything, not just illness, crime or bereavement. If there is an issue in your life which is affecting your studies, come and talk to the Specialist Advice Team in confidence. We are impartial and we are here to advise in your best interests. We have a drop in 12:00 – 2:00 Monday to Friday in the Student Support Centre or you can book an appointment by emailing advice@lincoln.ac.uk.

Evidence

In order to make a successful claim for EC, you will usually need independent evidence to show how the EC has affected you at the relevant time.

For example, if you have been ill, a medical certificate, hospital record or a letter from a medical professional/counsellor which confirms the illness and also the impact on your ability to study, on the relevant dates.

If you have been affected by the illness of a family member, medical evidence will be required including how the circumstances have affected you and your ability to study.

If you have been the victim of a crime, you may need evidence from the police and medical evidence.

One of the most important things to remember is that the evidence must relate to the time of the assessment(s) claimed for. You may need to explain this to your doctor/counsellor, or whoever is providing the evidence for you.

Letters from friends or family will not usually be considered as independent evidence.

If your evidence is not in English, you will need to provide an official translation, which you may have to pay for. You may also have to pay for medical evidence.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to supply the evidence. It is not enough to ask the University to contact your GP or the Police.

EC claims could be about anything, not just illness, crime or bereavement. If there is an issue in your life which is affecting your studies, come and talk to the Specialist Advice Team in confidence. We are impartial and we are here to advise in your best interests. We have a drop in 12:00 – 2:00 Monday to Friday in the Student Support Centre or you can book an appointment by emailing advice@lincoln.ac.uk.

The links below will take you to the relevant 2017/18 University of Lincoln regulations regarding extenuating circumstances: